This package of proposals includes a progressive income tax to “tax billionaires at a higher rate than janitors.” That’s a great tagline, but dig a little and it’s clear this proposal is more pandering than policy.

And don’t forget that many of these top earners are s-corps paying taxes on a one time windfall. Maybe it’s a developer that stays lean for years until finally closing a deal of the decade or an individual that sells a family business they worked to build with little to no salary for years.

Thankfully, the story is not all doom and gloom. The Illinois House and the Illinois Senate both have bills that oppose a progressive income tax and ask for spending reforms that allow us to grow. In the Illinios House, there are 50 co-sponsors for HR975 which was introduced by House Minority Leader Jim Durkin and opposes a progressive income tax. That number of co-sponsors is enough to block the supermajority that is required for a constitutional amendment and includes local Representatives Mark Batinick, Mike Fortner, Jeanne Ives, David Olsen, and Grant Wehrli.

Not to be outdone, SR1590 in the Illinois Senate has 21 co-sponsors and also opposes a progressive income tax. Local Senators Michael Connelly, John Curran, Chris Nybo, and Jim Oberweis are among the co-sponsors.

Don’t see your state legislator among the sponsors? We encourage you to reach out and ask them to protect Illinois tax payers from another tax increase. You can look up your representation on our website here. Enter the address for your business or your home and we’ll help get you connected.